Chris P.

Rose B.

Verified review

Bill Griffin did a kitchen remodel for me. Totally gutted kitchen. Put in a floating tile floor, painted, replaced some molding and installed new cabinets. The job was in Clinton, Indiana. Mr. Griffin is very precise in his work and VERY particular about the results. Nothing was left dirty or undone. All "messes" were cleaned. He goes above and beyond pleasing the customer and making sure he does what the customer asks for with no questioning on his part. He will make suggestions only if asked. I would have him do work for me again. I was very pleased with the results of his work.

Sandra H.

Verified review

Found a great buy on a new double bowl kitchen sink. Decided if I had to pay a plumber to install it now was the time to replace my kitchen countertops. It would mean replacing my kitchen bar, small cabinet countertop and the long "l-shaped" countertop holding the sink. I checked around a little at the local big box stores and decided that while I might find a pattern I liked how was I going to get it installed. Menards said they would deliver for $40. I didn't get specifics as to exactly where they considered "delivered". Curb? Driveway in front of garage? Up the back stairs onto my sundeck? Inside the sunroom? And once I have possession of these pieces how are they going to be installed? Probably my handyman and I could install the long 6' bar. Yes, I thought with some tugging and lifting we could manage that and also the small kitchen cabinet counter. Of course there could be collateral damage, be ready to expect some wallpaper and tile scraping, maybe need to make repairs of those. However, the long "l-shaped" piece was not something we were going to be able to manage. I could probably save some money by having the big box store make and deliver those pieces. Then I still have to find somebody to do that awkard "l-shaped" countertop that would have to have the double sink hole cut just exactly perfect. And, what about matching countertops? Could I be sure all these countertops would match? Well, as I was mulling all this over I happened upon Craigslist and found a countertop installer. His name is Steven McClain and his business is called McClains countertops. He is located in Atwood, IL, a small town south of where I live, close to the Walnut Park campground, off 57 south at Tuscola. He came to the house and measured my countertops and before I had him write me up an estimate I decided I should have him include replacement countertop for my double bowl bathroom vanity. He had a big suitcase with display samples of many patterns of "formica" and other countertops. I considered the cost of the improvement, the value of this house, the neighborhood and decided that the "formica" would be good enough and make a big upgrade to the house. Steven seemed to have the same samples I'd seen at the big box stores and I though I should buy all the countertops from one and the same source. I know wallpaper can vary in dye lots, tile can come in slightly different colors and I didn't want to risk that even though the patterns appeared identical there could be some slight differences in my kitchen counters. So a deal was struck and Steven came back another time for final measurements. I had somebody at my house that I needed to take somewhere and other errands to run and maybe Steven could have finished his measurements at that trip. I don't know, but he was generous with his time and made the second trip to be sure he had everything exactly right. I've owned rental properties, had my own houses remodled so I've been around remodeling and workers for decades. I was very happy with the craftsmanship of these countertops, the delivery went fine, the helper was courteous as was Steven. It was a lot of work, it did take as long as it took, nobody appeared to be cutting corners to finish the job, and all this during our worst winter blizzard this month. How many craftsmen will come to your house as promised, even if this means during a blizzard and do their job, right down to the very last detail and then only leave when everything is completely finished and I say I am pleased? If I ever need countertops again, and you never can tell, I would call Steven.

Q & A

In general, home service providers such as electricians, plumbers and contractors are professionals who don’t expect tips. They expect to do a job for you for the specific price they quoted. Of course, they may appreciate a tip for a job particularly well done or for which they’ve gone beyond what’s normally expected, such as completing the project early or under budget. Even better than a tip, it’s always appropriate to leave a positive review online after a good experience.

Custom cabinets can be built for any room, including bedroom closets and built-in armoires. Measured carefully and built precisely, custom cabinetry can increase storage and beautify any room. The national average for building custom cabinets ranges from $500 to $1,200 per linear foot. The cost is highly variable because there are so many styles, colors, glazes and other options. In general, the linear footage of the cabinets, the materials used to build them, and the cost of the labor will determine the cost. Solid wood costs more than plywood and wood veneer, and costs vary among different types of wood; maple and cherry cabinets are more expensive than pine. Glass-front cabinets can cost more, as can decorative hinges, handles and door pulls, which can cost $2-$45 each; choose carefully to stay within your budget and pull off the exact look you’re going for. Some carpenters also charge for installation, on average $100 per cabinet box. Additional molding and trim, such as crown molding at the ceiling, cost an average of $70 per 8-foot section, and adding finished ends to exposed cabinets averages $100-$200.

In any kitchen, the cabinets are the main focus, so you want to make sure new or replacement cabinets are installed correctly. A professional carpenter can properly, securely mount new cabinets to the wall; the national average cost for this service is $7,725, although the cost varies widely depending on the type of cabinets, their material and their size, and the accessories you add. A typical fee is $70 per linear foot to remove existing cabinets and assemble and install new ones; the cost is less if you do the demolition and removal yourself. Stock cabinets are the least expensive to have installed, ranging from $75 to $400 each; semi-custom cabinets range from $150 to $900 each; and custom cabinets cost from $500 to $1,400 each. Wood cabinets are more expensive than those made from plywood or medium-density fiberboard (MDF) and finished with a laminate. Wood cabinets range in cost from $80 to $160 per linear foot. Laminate-finished cabinets cost $35 to $75 per linear foot, on average.